Columbia River Springers MIA?

[t6]

WTH are all the Columbia River springers?  Been out twice and we've only seen three fish caught. 


Now they're going to close the river April 4th.  Watch the fish show up around the 15th of April as usual and our game departments in their infinite wisdom will keep the river closed. 

So much for springer fishing.

[carpsniperg2]

LOL yep. The major numbers start heading over bon mid to end of april. Went out yesterday down lower and saw 7 fish caught. our boat wacked a nice keeper. 6 of the Fish were keepers and 1 nate.

[Rainstorm Hunter]

Yup and they will probably be opening for the netters after the 4th.

[Button Nubbs]

The people who predict fish returns are worse than weather men...

[carpsniperg2]

Now come on, they get it right 10% of the time. The weather men are only right 2% of the time

[agchawk]

Now come on, they get it right 10% of the time. The weather men are only right 2% of the time

 Damn it Carp, as a retired Navy Weatherman I take offense! We got it right AT LEAST 5% of the time!

[wildmanoutdoors]

Still too early. At least we wont be near our Quota. I'm waiting to fish after they re open it. Heck Cathlamet never got turning on till about now, and lots are on the upper river which is cold and murky. Just cause its open does not mean its near prime time! The State opened it too early, but my bets are a re opening will be bonkers!
With as spotty as it is in March and fuel so high I have to have the best odds. Lol

[Button Nubbs]

Ok, 10% but that is every other year when they say its gonna be a huge humpy run. I could do that!

[D-Rock425]

I have a theory on the springers and game department every year they say a huge run of springers so everyone and their dog buys a fishing license by April 1st then they shut it down to low numbers year after year.

[Blacklab]

Been out half dozen times only seen a few fish caught mostly from boats. As for us land dwellers even worse. I hope they reopen it when the run really starts.

[wildmanoutdoors]

They will open it once they get a warm fuzzy feeling on the prediction.
If the run shows true to prediction and they open it around the 15th of April it will be bonkers!

[blacktailhunter]

It's early and the water is cold.  Fish seem to come back later and later each year.  I'm no biologist but I believe this has something to do with pounding on these early fish every year. Throw in another 1000 sea lions in the lower columbia system that supposedly eat about 5 salmon a day.

Fishing won't be great on the CR by the close on the 5th.  Check your logs from years past, I bet you don't have many fish punches in Mar.  If you want to get some fish this season on the CR it's going to take some serious hours on the water.

Good luck, see you all on the Willamette if it ever clears.

[t6]

Fished just outside the Willamette on Tuesday... It was real muddy looking.  Hooked up a couple of shaker sturgeon but that was it. 

I checked my card from last year... yup your right nothing on it until April 12th. and not for a lack of trying.

New boat this year so I'll be spending lots of time on the water.

[wildmanoutdoors]

The year before we started doing really well around the 17th, right before they shut it down. This was at Beacon.

[MtnMuley]

I know of a group of several people that have been fishing there for the last 8 days, and haven't had a bite???  These old guys are no rookies either.  Muddy water has been the case most of the time.  Gil net test runs produced 4 springers and 14 steelies and 3 springers and 17 steelies, so their season doesn't look too promising either.  Eventually they've got to make the surge........I'm sure after 4/4.